Warp stop mechanism



y 7, 1940- c. D. BROWN 2,200,148

WARP STOP MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR.

Y I CA EL D. BR WN. 1 1 2. BY W ATTORNEY.

May 7, 1940. c. D. BROWN WARP STOP MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1939 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LINE INVENT OR. O)1 /V.

CAEL Z7. 5

ATTORNEY.

7 l thread breaks.

Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED STATES WARP STOP MECHANISM C3111). Brown,

Draper Corporation, poration of Maine Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Hopedale, Mass, a cor- Application July 14, 1939, Serial No. 284,536

5 Claims.

The present invention pertains to looms and more particularly relates to electric warp stop mechanism for such looms.

The warp stop mechanism of the type to which 5 my invention applies commonly consists of an electric warp stop motion, so-called, suitable means including an electric circuit for supplying electric energy to the warp stop motion, and knock-off or stopping devices controlled by the 10 warp stop'motion'for breakage of a warp thread. Such electric warp stop motion usually comprises electrode bars and detector devices or drop wiresfor electrically connecting the electrode bars together when a warp In prior constructions; one of the electrode bars is grounded and the other is continuously supplied with electric energy by the aforesaid electric circuit. Thus, the stop motion is continuously operative and causes actuation of the stopping devices either the instant that the bars are connected by a detector member or, if the stopping devices are lay-actuated, during the first beat of the lay following such connection of the bars. I

It is highly desirablethat the electric warp stop mechanism be so controlled that it always effects the stopping of the loom at the same predetermined point in the More particularly, it is preferred, for example,

that an automatic filling replenishing loom be stopped by the warp stop mechanism only with the shuttle at the non-replenishing side of the 100m and with the lay at the proper predetermined position wherein the harness frames are level. This stopping position indicates to the weaver that the stop was caused by a broken warp thread, and also the loom is in proper position'to permit repair of the broken thread.

It has been proposed to accomplish the afore- 40 said timing of the stopping of the loom by the electric warp stopping mechanism, by providing cam and lever timing devices for controlling or limiting the time of operation of the knock-oil? or stopping devices. However, all of the prior timing devices are inherently so complex and so expensive that they are impractical for most mill conditions. Accordingly, none of said prior timing devices has been used very extensively. It

ping of the loom from the electric warp stop mechanism can be accomplished by timing the supplying of electric energy to the electrode bars, and that the required mechanism would be ina herently simpler andcheaper and otherwise more stopping the loom upon cycle of loom operation.-

has occurred to me that the timing of the stop-' satisfactory than any means for timing the knockoff devices.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an automatic filling replenishing loom having an electric warp stop m motion comprising electrode'bars and detector members, and stopping devices controlled by such stop motion, as aforesaid, and an electric circuit including a switch arranged and operated to intermittently supply electric energy to said electrode bars at the proper intervals to effect stopping of the loom only at a predetermined point in the alternate picks of the loom when the shuttle is boxed at the non-replenishing side. 1

The foregoing and other objects of the in- 15 vention are accomplished in the construction illustrated on the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is aview, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a loom having the preferred embodiment of my invention applied thereto, this View being takenfrom outside the right hand loom side;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, as seen looking toward the inside of the left 25 hand loom side;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, with parts omitted or broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view including a wiring diagram.

The drawings show my improved electric warp stop mechanism and only such of the other parts of the loom as are necessary to an understanding of the present invention. The loom includes the usual frame comprising a right hand loom 35 side i, a left hand loom side 2, and a breast beam 3 located at the front of the loom. The loomalso includes a lay 4 which is reciprocated toward and from the front of the loom by a crank shaft 5. The crank shaft makes one com- 40 plete revolutionfor each pick of the loom and drives the usual cam shaft 6 at the rate of one complete revolution for each two' picks of the loom. The lay 4 has a shuttle box at each end thereof, of which the left hand shuttle box I is shown. The shuttle 8 is picked back and forth along the lay, from side to side of the loom.

.The shuttle 8 is picked in the usual timed relation to the movement of the lay. More specifically, the shuttle is picked from the left hand shuttle box while the lay is moving rearwardly, enters the right hand shuttle .box during forward movement of the lay, remains in the latter box until thelay starts its next rearward movement, and is then picked toward the left hand shuttle box, so that the shuttle is picked in opposite directions during alternate revolutions of the crank shaft. Suitable usual replenishing mechanism, indicated generally at 9, is located at one side of the loom, it being shown at the right hand side.

The warp threads W feed from the rear of the loom toward the front thereof, and warp stop mechanism, so-called, is provided for effecting the stopping of the loom when one of the warp threads breaks. The starting and stopping of the loom is effected by movement of a shipper well known in the art, stopping handle I 0. As is of the loom is effected within a predetermined interval (slightly less than one-half of a revolution of the crank shaft) after the shipper handle is moved to ofi position. The warp stop mechanism, to be described, includes knock-off devices for moving the shipper handle H] and a warp stop motion for controlling the knock-off devices.

The warp stop motion shown is ofthe electric type and includes detector bars II and i2 and drop wires 83. The bars H are fixed in end brackets i4 and thereby grounded to the loom frame. The bars l2 are supported by but insulated from the bars 1 I. The bars H and I 2 are adapted to be electrically connected by a drop wire when a warp thread breaks, all as is well known in the art. I Electric energy is supplied to the detector bar l2 and electrical connection of the bars by a drop wire causes actuation of the knock-off devices.

The knock-off devices shown include an electromagnet i5 and a lay-actuated dog IS. The magnet I5 is mounted on the loom frame and is connected to the dog M by a link H. The dog I6 is pivoted to one arm of a pivoted lever l8 and the other arm of such lever is connected to the rearward end of a horizontal knock-off rod M. This rod is slidably supported in a bearing and carries at its forward end a head for engagement with the shipper handle Ill. The dog it is normally below the path of a bunter 2! on the lay. When the electro-magnet i5 is energized, it raises the dog it to its dotted line position, Figs. 1 and 4, which is in the path of the bunter 2|. Then, when the lay next moves rearwardly the bunter pushes the dog rearwardly, thereby moving lever l8 clockwise, Fig. 1, and pushing rod I9 forwardly to move the shipper handle H] to stopping position.

The knock-off devices just described, being lay-actuated, are simple and effective. However, if the live electrode i2 is continuously energized the knock-off devices will stop the loom within one pick after the warp thread breaks and with the shuttle in either box. As above stated, it is highly desirable that the loom always stop from the warp stop mechanism in a predetermined position, preferably that point in each alternate pick where the shuttle B is boxed at the non-replenishing side of the 100m and the lay is about at the end of its forward movement. In lieu of complicated prior devices for timing the operation of the knock-off devices, I obtain this desirable result by timing the supply ing of electric energy to the electrode bars.

The source of electric energy for the detector bar l2 may be a transformer 22. One side of the secondary winding of the transformer is grounded to the loom frame as indicated at'23. The other side of this winding is electrically connected by a wire 24 to the usual switch 25. This switch is operated by connections 26 to the ship; per handle l0, so thatth'eswitch is "closed when the loom is running and open when the shipper handle moves to off position. Another wire 21 extends from the switch to. the solenoid li, a Wire 28 connects the solenoidwith a switch 29, and a wire 30 connects the switch 29 with the live electrode bars 12. Thus, the switch 25, magnet l5, switch29 and electrode bars l2 are electrically connected in series to supply electric energy to the warp stop motion. It is this circuit that is timed, by mechanically opening and closing the switch 29. The particular switch- 29 shown is a tilting mercury switch, of standard construction in electrical arts. This switch may be tilted to closed position during a predetermined part of each alternate pick of the loom and be tilted or held in open position at all other times, whereby the aforesaid electric circuit is closed, and the bars l2 energized, at predetermined times and the circuit is kept open and the stop motion inoperative at all other times. To this end, the switch 29 may be mounted on a lever 3| which has its forward end pivoted in a bracket 32 and its rearward end resting by gravity on the weft hammer 33. The weft hammer is a conventional part of automatic looms, it being pivoted'at 34 and operated by a cam 35 on the cam shaft 6.

The weft hammer 33 moves regularly, in timed parts of the loom, and has one complete cycle of movement for each two picks of the loom. The lever 3! as shown is so arranged that the switch 29 is closed when the shuttle 8 is absent from the shuttle box 7, which is about one pick in advance of the desired time for stopping the loom. If a drop wire I3 is down, thus electrically connecting the bars H and i2, the magnet l5 will be energized immediately. This magnet is of the usual shunt variety which, when once energized, will hold the dog 3 up until the latter is forcibly moved down, even if the circuit is opened while the dog is up. .Then, when the lay next moves rearwardly, the bunter 2 [engages the dog. l6 and pushes the latter rearwardly. As above stated,

loom stoppage is effected within a predetermined I interval after the dog It is'raised. This interval,

in the preferred embodiment, is such that the loom will be stopped with the shuttle boxed in the shuttle box I (at the non-replenishing side of the loom) and with the lay nearly'at the forward end of its stroke. v The particular timing of the stopping of the loom just described is preferred because it indicates to the weaver the cause of the stop, andbelcause the loom is in proper position for repairof the broken warp thread without further manipulation.

However, the timing may be varied as sired. The preferred embodiment, as described, is proving to be entirely satisfactory for its purpose and is much simpler and cheaper than any prior timing devices of which I am aware. I believe that simplicity of construction, andfother advantages, are inherent in the idea of timing the supply of electric energy.

Having fully disclosed the preferred ment of my invention, I claim: p

1. An automatic filling replenishingloom having in combination a reciprocating lay, a shuttle, filling replenishing mechanism at one side of the loom, an electric warp electrode bars and detector members for electrically connecting said bars when a warp thread breaks, an electric circuit supplying electric energy to said detector bars, stopping devices operembodie 0. 7 stop motion comprising relation to the movement of the lay and other ative to stop'the. loomwhenlsaid circuit is closed 1Q and said bars are electrically connected by a detector member, a regularly moving part having one complete cycle of movement for each two complete reciprocations of said lay, and means operated by said part for closing said circuit during the proper portion of each alternate movement of the lay to cause said stop motion to stop the loom with the shuttle boxed at the non-replenishing side of the loom, and for keeping said circuit open at all other times.

2. A loom having in combination a reciprocating lay, a shuttle, a filling stop motion including a weft hammer having one complete oscillation for each two complete reciprocations of said lay, an electric warp stop motion comprising electrode bars and detector members for electrically connecting said bars when a warp thread breaks, an electric circuit supplying electric energy to said warp stop motion, a switch in said circuit, stopping devices controlled by said circuit for stopping the loom when said switch is closed and said bars are electrically connected as aforesaid, said stopping devices being inoperative when said switch is open, and means operated by said weft hammer for closing said switch during a predetermined portion of each alternate reciprocation of said lay and for keeping said switch open at all other times.

3. An automatic filling replenishing loom having in combination a reciprocating lay, a shuttle,

filling replenishing mechanism at one side of the loom, an electric warp stop motion, stopping devices controlled by said stop motion, a tilting mercury switch electrically connected to render said stop motion operative when the switch is closed and inoperative when means tilting said switch to open and close the the switch is open, and

same in proper timed relation to render said stop motion and devices operative to stop the loom only with said shuttle at the non-replenishing side of the loom and the lay at approximately its forward position.

4,. An automatic filling replenishing loom having in combination, a reciprocating lay, a shuttle, filling replenishing devices located at one side of the loom, a weft hammer having one complete oscillation for each two complete reciprocations of said lay, an electric warp stop motion, stopping devices controlled by said stop motion, a tilting mercury switch electrically connected to said stop motion for rendering the latter operative when the switch is closed and inoperative when the switch is open, and means actuated by said Weft hammer for opening and closing said switch in proper timed relation to render said stop motion operative to stop the loom only with said shuttle at the non-replenishing side of the loom and said lay at approximately its forward position.

5. A loom having in combination a reciprocating lay, a shuttle, an electric warp stop motion, means including an electric circuit for supplying electric energy to said warp stop motion, a regularly moving part having one complete cycle of movement for each two complete reciprocations of said lay, a pivoted lever oscillated by said part in timed relation thereto, and a tilting mercury switch in said circuit for opening and closing the same, said switch being mounted on said lever in proper position to close said circuit only during a predetermined portion of each alternate reciprocation of said lay and to keep said circuit open at all other times.

CARL D. BROWN. 

